Our View: Fix the zoo

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo is one of our community's best assets for families.

But families visiting the zoo must be comfortable that the animals displayed are well cared for in the most humane conditions possible.

We do not doubt that this mission also is heartfelt by everyone involved with the zoo.

But the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has regulatory authority over the country's zoos, sees it differently.

A recent inspection found Monroe's zoo needs to construct eight new primate holding pens and remodel the kitchen used for preparing food for the animals.

Zoo director Joe Clawson said officials are getting cost estimates for replacing the primate holding pens. He said that project can be accomplished in-house by using some of the zoo's maintenance budget. There's approximately $80,000 budgeted for maintenance this year.

The kitchen remodeling project will have to go before the City Council in order for bids to be accepted and a contractor selected. A cost estimate is not known at this time, but USDA inspectors said the kitchen needed stainless steel counters and cabinets.

Clawson said zoo officials are switching priorities from routine maintenance projects in order to make USDA's recommended changes by Jan. 1.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo said the city would support the projects in order to meet the USDA's requirements.

"It's our intent to continue to improve the zoo in every aspect. If the USDA is requiring certain things that need to take place, we will adhere to those requirements. There have been a number of improvements at the zoo. We believe the zoo is the No. 1 family attraction in Monroe with the number of people who visit it each year. So whatever the USDA requires us to do, we'll do it," Mayo said.

We hope the council agrees that the zoo must come up to USDA standards. The zoo, like other "quality of life" departments of the city's community affairs division, has a nonprofit component in the zoological society that should be called upon to assist with the necessary fund-raising to make the USDA's minimal requirements a reality.

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Our View: Fix the zoo

Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo is one of our community's best assets for families.